“Oh, they will,” Renard said. “Henri will see to it. Your men, Commander Ye, are they prepared to take orders from mine? It is a delicate formality we must overcome.”
“Yes,” Ye said. “They are looking at you and your crew as veterans and instructors.”
“You mean we all look very old,” Renard said.
“I only ask that your men also trust mine. They will voice opinions in their areas of expertise.”
“Agreed,” Renard said. “May I see my ship?”
“Not yet,” Li said. “But send your crew. I need you and Ye to come with me. The mission briefing has been awaiting your arrival.”
Li snapped words in Mandarin. Commander Ye nodded, bid farewell, and stepped into a white van.
“Please, Mister Renard,” Li said. “Ride with me.”
Renard ducked into the limousine and sat facing Li.
“What’s the first mission?” he asked.
“The last Japanese convoy lost three of eight ships with a fourth crippled,” Li said. “Our generous Japanese neighbors will no longer risk their own vessels, even when assured by Taipei companies. We must now escort our own tankers out of the blockade and back home again.”
“This blockade must be costing you a fortune.”
“This war,” Li said, “is straining our economy, our reserves, and the resolve of our people.”
“I’ll do what I can to help,” Renard said.
The limousine turned toward the Keelung command center. Renard steadied himself against the door.
“I know how you tried to help us the last time,” Li said. “With the loss of the lead ship of our stealth patrol class and the forfeiture of one hundred and twenty million dollars for nothing, enough ranking people discovered the truth of your failure.”
“Pity it cost your boss his job,” Renard said. “Before you cast stones, why don’t you tell me who is first in line to replace him? You are the acting Defense Minister in the position’s vacancy, are you not?”
“The young must replace the old, Renard,” Li said, “especially in time of war. I have made the Prime Minister aware that I am ready to assume the Defense Minister role permanently.”
Darkness enshrouded the limousine as it entered an underground parking lot.
“If you are so dismayed by the so-called failure that ruined your old boss, why do you trust me now?”
“You are still among the world’s best in military planning and submarine operations.”
“Among the best? I am aware of none better.”
“There are other qualified candidates,” Li said, “but none of them are in my nation’s debt. You are the obvious choice, but remember that I can replace you, and remember that I am your son’s caretaker.”
CHAPTER 11
Drugs helped her sleep through the night, and Olivia awoke early. She had maintained her composure during intercourse with Jake, but beneath her acting, her lovemaking had been rote. She had denied herself feeling love or desire, leaving her uncertain if professionalism or psychological scars had enabled her numbness.
Having showered, she sensed life infusing itself into her again. Her first sip of coffee brought warmth to her extremities.
A knock at her door startled her. She grabbed her cell phone to ask her lookout to identify her visitor, but she reconsidered and greeted her guest at the doorway.
“Jake?” she asked.
“Hey, look, Olivia, I uh…”
“You look like the X-games poster boy.”
A black leather jacket and riding pants covered him from shins to neck. His accessories were also black — the gloves, the leather boots, and the helmet with a microphone under the shaded visor he held under his arm. Over his shoulder she saw the morning sun beaming off a black Kawasaki Ninja squeezed between two Citroëns.
“You remember that I told you my dad left me a lot of money?” he said.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t like to throw it around, but I’m getting ready to blow some.”
“So you’re sponsoring yourself in Grand Prix racing? I hope you’re not looking for me to join your pit crew.”
Jake chuckled.
“Nothing like that.”
“So, what are you up to?”
“I’m taking a bike trip. I’m staying in the best hotels, eating the best food, and drinking the best beer and wine I can get my hands on.”
“You’re kidding. Just like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Any idea where you’re going?”
“Don’t care. Probably head into the Alps.”
“That’s awesome. Just don’t get yourself killed. I’ll miss you, though. How long are you going to be gone?”
“A few days. Maybe a couple weeks.”
“So you came by to say goodbye?”
“Well, I was hoping you’d come with me.”
His face reminded her of a puppy dog’s.
“You serious?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“I have school.”
Her protest sounded lame the moment she said it.
“You’ve got a PhD in psychology. I’m not taking art classes as an excuse.”
“Jake, this is so sweet. I just don’t know if I’m ready. I’m not much for riding on the back of a two-wheel pocket rocket.”
“You don’t have to. I rented you your own bike. You can follow me — if you can keep up.”
“You want to race me through the Alps?”
“You said you had your dad’s bike up to over a hundred miles an hour. I’m going to hold you to that.”
The concept of running off with him scared her. She’d have less surveillance coverage, and she hadn’t pushed a cycle to its limits in years. But she sensed that the reward would be Slate’s deeper confidence. She could feel the relationship blooming. Even though the professional voice in her head told her not to, she began to trust him.
“What brought this all on?” she said.
“I just want to get away,” he said.
“A life of financial independence in a sunny French city full of art and culture is too much to bear?”
“No, I’m actually pissed off at Pierre, if you must know. We’re having a pretty big argument. I need to clear my head.”
Bingo, she thought.
“I sensed a little tension during dinner.”
“You did?” he asked.
“Remember, I am a psychologist.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it.”
She caressed his shoulder.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to.”
“I’m feeling the itch of the road. You coming?”
Olivia raised her hand over her mouth to hide a giggle. She blushed, and her giddiness was half real.
“Okay.”
He sighed through a smile.
“Serious?”
“Yeah.”
She reached out, hugged him, and kissed his neck. He wrapped his arms around her. She strained to breathe but didn’t care. She pushed back, and he released her.
“I need to pack some things,” she said.
“Okay, but not too much. We can buy or rent anything we need, and I want to travel light.”
“You mean fast,” she said.
“Whatever.”
“What do I wear? I mean for riding?”
“Got it taken care of,” he said.
“Oh, yeah?”
“If you’ll permit me the luxury — I used the help of a female salesperson at the apparel shop to reserve you an ensemble like mine. Except I decked you out in bright blue. It goes with your red hair.”
“That’s gaudy!”
“No, you’re going to look hot!”
His grin became impish. She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I’ll look pretty cute. Did you also rent me a bright blue bike?”
“Of course. Just got to catch a cab to go pick it up. I’ll be back.”
He sauntered away with a spring in his step. He had to be falling in love with her, and, for a moment, Olivia forgot she wasn’t supposed to be doing the same.